234 GAMOPETALOUS EXOGENS 



Corolla 5-parted, reflexed, deciduous. Crown of 5 hooded lobes, 

 each containing a subulate or horn-like incurved process. Anthers 

 adherent to the stigma, tipt with membranaceous appendages, the 

 cells opening perpendicularly, with rigid projecting wing-like mar- 

 gins ; each cell containing a flattened pyriform waxy pollen-mass, 

 the two contiguous pollen-masses of adjacent anthers forming pairs, 

 which hang by their slender summits from 5 small black shining 

 cloven tubercles, or glands, at the angles of the stigma. Ovaries 

 in pairs, one of them usually abortive. Follicles somewhat ventri- 

 cose, acuminate, soft; seeds numerous, each with a tuft of silky 

 hairs at the hilum. Flowers in simple pedunculate umbels, terminal 

 and lateral. 



1. Follicles muricate with flexible points ; leaves opposite. 



1. A. Cornikti, Decaisne. Leaves elliptic-ovate or oblong, acute, 

 tomentose beneath ; umbels subterminal. 

 A. Syriaca. L. $ Fl. Cestr. ed. 2. p. 169. 

 CORNUTUS'S ASCLEPIAS. Silk-weed. Wild Cotton. 



Stem 3 to 4 feet high, rather stout, simple or nearly so, smoothish. Leaves 6 to 

 8 inches long, acute, or with a small acumination ; petioles about half an inch in 

 length. Umbels 2 to 4, axillary near the summit of the stem ; common peduncles 2 

 to 3 inches long ; pedicels 1 to 1% inches in length, with lance-linear bracts at 

 base ; flowers numerous, rather large, sweet-scented, many of them abortive ; 

 corolla greenish-purple; follicles few, 3 to 5 inches long; seeds ovate, or pyriform. 

 Hob. Low grounds; along streams: frequent. Fl. June. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. This coarse species appears to have been named, by LIN- 

 NAEUS, under the mistaken impression that it was a Syrian plant; 

 but, being exclusively American, it has been deemed expedient to 

 correct the misnomer, of Syriaca, and substitute that of the man 

 who first noticed it in a history of Canadian plants. 



2. Follicles not muricate. f Leaves mostly opposite. 

 * Stems simple or nearly so. 



2* A. pliytolaccoides, Pursh. Leaves ovate, or oval-lanceo- 

 late, acuminate ; umbels mostly lateral, long-pedicelled and loose. 

 PHYTOLACCA-LIKE ASCLEPIAS. Poke-leaved Swallow-wort. 



Stem 3 to 4 or 5 feet high, rather slender, somewhat pubescent in lines. Leaves 

 6 to 9 inches long, acute at each end ; petioles about half an inch in length. 

 Umbels sometimes terminal as well as lateral ; common peduncles 2 to 3 inches 

 long; pedicels 1 to 1% inches in length, slender and flaccid, with subulate-linear 

 bracts at base ; corolla greenish-white ; crown with tinges of purple at base ; follicles 

 4 to 6 inches long, minutely pubescent. 

 Hab. Copses ; fence-rows, &c. : frequent. Fl. June. Fr. Sept. 



3. A. purpiiriiscens, L. Leaves elliptic, or ovate-oblong, 

 rather obtuse and mucronate ; umbels terminal, erect. 

 A. amoena. MX. $ FL Cestr. ed. 2. p. 169. 

 PURPLISH ASCLEPIAS. 



Stem 2 to 3 feet high, somewhat corymbosely branched above, mostly marked 

 with 2 pubescent lines. Leaves 4 to 6 inches long, sometimes acute, or with a 

 small abrupt acumination ; petioles %to%&n inch in length. Umbels numerous ; 

 common peduncles 1 to 2 inches long ; pedicels near an inch in length, with subulate 



